Research in the Martinos Center is organized around two complementary domain categories that together drive innovation in biomedical imaging and its real-world impact.
Method & Technology Development focuses on creating the tools that make new discoveries possible. Investigators in this area design and refine imaging hardware, software, and analytical methods — from advanced MRI and PET techniques to optical imaging systems, wearable sensors, and AI-driven data analysis. This work expands what can be measured in the human body and brain, improves image quality and speed, and enables imaging in settings that were previously impractical, including bedside and mobile environments.
Applications research applies these tools to understand biology, diagnose disease, and improve patient care. Researchers use advanced imaging to study brain function, cardiovascular health, cancer, inflammation, mental health, and other conditions, translating technical innovation into clinical insight. By working closely with clinicians and external partners, Martinos investigators ensure that new methods address real needs — advancing scientific understanding while enabling more accurate diagnosis, better monitoring of disease, and more effective treatment.
Together, these two domains reflect the Center’s mission: to develop transformative imaging technologies and apply them to answer critical questions in health and disease.
Method & Technology Development
